Hydraulic jack



April 17, 1951 J, J, MUELLER 2,548,903

HYDRAULIC JACK Filed April 9 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VEN TOR.

; j I da sqph Ji/Yzae/Zer Patented Apr. 17, 1951 HYDRAULIC JACK Joseph J. Mueller, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,279

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hydraulic jacks.

Amon the objects of the present invention is to provide an hydrauli jack of novel construction and also a process for producing the jack, including the jack base, wherein the jack is formed in a most economical manner, of few parts, simply constructed, easily assembled, easily taken apart for repair and cleaning, and particularly wherein the valve mechanism controlling the passage of the fluid from the reservoir to the high pressure pump, and from the high pressure pump to the ram cylinder, and from the ram cylinder back to the reservoir, is disposed in such a manner that these valves may be removed from the jack in the simplest manner and without taking down the cylinder or reservoir construction itself.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a method for making a preferably all.

steel jack base wherein the base is formed by cutting an elongated, rolled or forged bar of steel of desired cross section into the desired number of bases, which bases are then finished by forming suitable borings therein, certain of which are formed downwardly into the top thereof to provide connections for receiving concentric steel sleeves forming the ram cylinder and concentrically disposed reservoir, the high pressure pump piston and the mounting for its actuating member mechanism, the release valve, and the various liquid conduits which interconnect the reservoir with the ram cylinder and the high pressure pump cylinder and the release valve.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a preferably all-steel jack comprising a single, one-piece steel base suitably bored and certain of the borings being threaded and certain being left unthreaded, the larger bores receiving concentrically disposed steel sleeves and outer cap mechanism forming the ram cylinder and the surrounding reservoir, and certain of the smaller bores receiving the valve mechanism and forming interconnecting conduits directly in the all-steel base for interconnecting the fluid passages between the ram cylinder, the reservoir, the high pressure pump cylinder, and the relief valve.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a novel type or" release valve mechanism wherein the bore in the base into which the release valve adjustably projects is utilized also as a passage into which two other valves controlling the flow of liquid fromthe reservoir to the high pressure pump cylinder, and from the high pressure pump cylinder to the ram cylinder, are located, and whereby upon the removal of the release valve, these other valves are immediately accessible for repair or replacement. A further object in connection with the foregoing resides in a construction wherein a 1 portion of the release valve is utilized as a means showing the manner in which the bar is transversely cut to produce individual all-steel bases;

Figure 2 shows one of the base sections after being suitably bored to provide connections for. the ram cylinder sleeve and reservoir sleeve, the high pressure pump cylinder, the standard for its actuating mechanism, the release valve, and for the various fluid conduits;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line t4l of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; V

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 8;

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line -l of Figure 2; i

Figure 8 is a plan view of the base;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the. line i i-4i) of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line Il-ll of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l2l2 of Figure 10.

Referring now to the details of the invention, this jack is preferably an all-steel jack comprising apreferably all-steel base block and various attached preferably steel parts, such as a pair of concentric cylinders forming the ram cylinder and reservoir, a smaller cylinder forming the high pressure pump cylinder, a piston, an upright standard forming the actuator, the release valve and borings in the steel block forming the various fluid connections.

The preferably steel block is preferably formed in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 wherein a relatively long, rolled or forged shape 2 is provided. This shape in cross section is formed with a relatively wide, flat top portion 4, the side walls 6 and 8 of which form substantially right angle shoulders with the flat top portion 4 and merge into two outwardly extending flanges Ill and I2. The height of the flanges is much less than the thickness of the elongated bar 2, through the central portion 4 thereof, as illustrated. After the elongated rolled or wrought all-steel bar is thus formed, it is then cut in sections such as along the dotted line I3 of Figure l, to form the sectional base-like shapes shown in Figure 1. Thus a plurality of preformed preferably all-steel bases are made from a. single elongated all-steel rolled or wrought bar 2.

Next a single sectional shape is provided with the requisite borings. One of the borings, such as I5, is provided with internal threads. This boring forms the well of the ram cylinder. Concentrically surrounding and in spaced relation from this well or bore I5, the top 4 of the base is. provided with an annular, concentrically surrounding, spaced bore I8 providing a shoulder 29 and a reduced portion 22 for the reception of the reservoir sleeve as hereinafter described. The bore I is provided with a smaller bore ii at. its bottom, which is unthreaded and which forms the ram cylinder chamber and which connects with the various fluid passages hereinafter referred to. The top 4 of the basal preferably all-steel block is likewise provided with a pair of relatively smaller bores which are located between the reservoir concentric annular bore I8 and the adjacent edge 28 of the basal block. One of these bores such as 23 has its center formed ona line which is parallel to but offset from a line passing through the center of the bore I5, see Figure 8. This bore 23 has its inner walls threaded as at 24 to receive the externally threaded sleeve forming the high pressure pump cylinder as hereinafter referred to. The other spaced bore 26 is unthreaded and lies laterally of the bore 23 between said bore 22 and the edge 28 of the basal block. In addition the face 38 of the block is provided with a relatively small bore 32 which penetrates the bore 26 through its diameter and also pierces as at 34 into the opposite wall of the bore. In addition, one of the feces, such as 5, of the block is provided with a preferably larger bore 36-44 for the release valve and the valves controlling the fluid flow between the reservoir, the pump and the ram cylinder. lhis bore has its center line formed at right angles to the plane passing through the bore 23 as hereinbefore described. This bore is preferably pro vided with a series of stepped portions of ually decreasing diameter such as the portion 35, the portion 38. the portion 49, the portion 32. and the portion 34, thus providing a series of shoulders between these bore portions of decreasing diameters. These shoulders so formed constitute valve seats, as hereinafter described. The center of this bore 35 is disposed about an axis 46 which is inclined to vertical planes passing through the top plane 4 and the bottom plane 48 of the base. In short, the inner end of the bore is lower than the mouth portion of the bore 36. The bore 36 is adapted to receive the release valve and other valves as shown in Figure 12.

The face 36 of the block is provided with two spaced apart, relatively smaller bores 52 and 54, which are threaded in the larger portions thereof adjacent the face 30 for the reception of plugs as hereinafter set forth. The inner portions 56 and 58 of these bores 52 and 54 are preferably of smaller diameter. One of the bores, to wit 58, shown in Figure 7, connects with the portion 42 of the relief valve bore 33 and then by means of a slightly inclined bore 6c connects with the reduced portion 22 of the reservoir annular groove or bore I8, as shown in Figure 7. In addition, the bore 58 connects with a substantially vertical, relatively short bore 62 which in turn connects with the bore 23 forming the high pressure pump cylinder chamber. The other bore 56 con nects with the portion 40 of the relief valve bore 36 and likewise connects as at 56' with the central portion ll of the well I6 forming the bottom of the ram cylinder. The enlarged portions 52 and 54 of the bore are normally closed by means of threaded plugs 66 and 68. Bore 58 also connects with pump cylinder 23.

The ram cylinder is composed of a steel sleeve 'I'Il having its lower end threaded as at I2. to engage the internal threads of the ram. cylinder bore I5 of the base. The upper end of the ram cylinder sleeve ID is likewise externally threaded as at 14 to engage the internal threads of an annular cap '16. This cap is provided with an annular countersunk portion. I3 and internal threads I4 and is likewise provided with an external annular shoulder 82. The reservoir is formed by means of a second larger steel sleeve 84 which has one end resting in a shoulder 20 formed by the countersunk bore I8 of the base. The opposite end of this sleeve 84 rests in the annular shoulder 82 of the annular cap I6. By placing the two sleeves l0 and 84 in position as shown in Figure 9 and then threading the annular cap I6 onto the upper threads I4 of the ram cylinder sleeve I0, the outer cylinder 84 is clamped in place for forming a liquid-tight seal with the base 6 and the cap 16. The space between the two sleeves forms a reservoir 99. The ram cylinder II! has reciprocally mounted therein the ram 92 which at its lower end is provided with the usual type of leather or other composition flexible gasket 94 held in place by suitable locking means 96 engaging a threaded end 93 on the ram. The upper end of the hollow ram cylinder sleeve N19 has the nut I02 press fitted into its upper end. The inner end of this ram cylinder is threaded to receive the ram cylinder extension I94 which is provided with a load support I06 at its upper end. The piece I 84 may be adjusted with respect to the upper end of the ram cylinder I00 by hand to provide an extension for the jack. Suitable packing means is confined between the upper end of the ram cylinder I0 and the annular internal wall of the cap It by means of a screw threaded packing gland I08 and seal-tight packing IIII. A passage I I2 connects the space below this packing with the reservoir 99 so that any fluid reaching the upper end of this sleeve Ii! will pass back to the reservoir.

The filling opening is formed in the sleeve 84 by forming an indented opening in the sleeve to form a thickened annular shoulder I I4, threading the same, and then applying externally thereof a packing washer II6 held in place by a screw I I8 which engages the threads of the opening I I4.

The high pressure pump cylinder is formed as a short steel sleeve I20 threaded at its upper and lower ends at I22 and I24 respectively. The thread I22 engages the inner thread 24 of the bore 23 of the base and the upper thread I24 is engaged by a cap I26 having an opening through which the piston I28 reciprocates. The inner end of the piston is provided with the usual type of flexible sealing cup I30. The outer end of the piston I28 is provided with an opening to receive a pivot pin I32 which engages ears I34 and I36 on a handle operating socket I38 which is pivoted on a pin I40 fixed on the upper end of a rod-like standard I42, the lower'end of which standard is pivoted asat I44 in the bore 26. The pivot pin I44 passes through the openings 32 and 34 of this bore as shown in Figure 2. The hollow socket portion I46 of the handle I34 is adapted to receive any type of extensible handle.

By reference to Figure 12 it will be noted that the inner end of the portion 42 of the release valve bore forms a shouldered valve seat I48 against which a ba1l.I50 is adapted to close. This ball is normally maintained on its seat by a relatively small coiled spring I52. In addition the larger diameter portion 40 of the release valve bore is formed with a shoulder I54 which forms a valve seat and against which a larger ball I56 is adapted to close. This larger ball in turn is held against its seat by a larger spring I58 one end of which presses against the ball and the other end of which is seated in a bore formed on the inner end of the release valve I62. The inner end of the release valve I62 is provided with a conical surface I64 which is adapted to seat against a conical seat I66 formed between the bored portion 40 and the larger diameter bore portion 38 of the release valve. The sides of this release valve I62 adjacent the conical wall I64 are relieved or countersunk as shown at I68 so that the space between this countersunk wall and the surroundirig bore 38 connects by means of a passage I with the lower portion 22 of the reservoir groove I8.

By reference to Figure 10, upon operation of the high pressure pump to cause the piston I28 to move upwardly thereby creating a suction at the bottom of the high pressure pump cylinder, the smaller ball I50 will be drawn away from its seat I48 due to the suction effect, and liquid will be drawn from the reservoir 90 through the passageway 60 into the bore portion 44, thence past the ball I50 which has been pulled off its seat by the suction, thence to the bore 58, thence into the bore 62, see Figure '7, and into the bottom of the high pressure pump cylinder. Upon reversal of the piston I28 this liquid is then forced from the pump cylinder back through passages 62 and 58, forcing the ball I56 on its seat I54 and the ball I50 onto its seat, whereupon the liquid passes laterally into the bore 56, see Figure 9, which connects with the ram cylinder well I1. Upon this downstroke of the piston I28 the pressure will press the ball I50 back onto its seat I48 and simultaneously, as before stated, the ball I56 will leave its seat. Upon reversal, or upward suction stroke of the piston, the ball I50 will leave its seat and the ball I56 will be drawn onto its seat I54. A repetition of the action of the piston will draw sufficient liquid from the reservoir to gradually force the ram 92 upwardly to the desired height. Any oil leaking around the ram will escape, as beforestated, by the passage II2 back into the reservoir.

The outer end of the pressure release valve I62 is' provided with a cross pin I12. This valve ZiI 6 passes through a threaded collar I14 to hold packing I16 in position to prevent leakage. Th collar I14 is provided with a relatively large" external thread which screws to an external thread on the bore 36 of the base while the release valve I62 is provided with an externally threaded portion I18 which engages threads I80 in a smaller portion 30 of the release valve bore so that the release valve as a whole may be backed off its seat I66 by turning the release valve and not the collar I14. When the inner conical end of the release valve is backed off its seat I66 communication is established between the portion 40 of the release valve bore in which the valves I56 and I are located by means of the conduit I10 which conshoulder I 19 which is adapted to engage a shoulder I8I on the packing nut I14 So as to'lprevent the valve from being screwed out entirely when the packing nut I14 is threaded inwardly to engage the packing I 16. Obviously by first unscrewing the packing nut I14 the release valve I63 can thereafter be unscrewed and removed entirely from its bore.

It will be noted that by reason of the construction of the inner end of the release valve the spring I58 is held down. This spring bears centrally upon ball I55, the opposite periphery of which ball bears upon the smaller spring and the opposite end of this smaller spring bears upon the ball I50. Therefore when the release valve is, moved inwardly it causesa tension upon both springs to normally hold the balls upon their seats and in the same movement the conical portion I64 of the release valve is closed upon its seats I66, thereby cutting oif communication between the bore 40 of the release valve, and the reservoir.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific detail of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope-of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I 1. An hydraulic jack comprising a base having a ram cylinder bore formed in the upper face 9 thereof and an annular bore concentrically surrounding said ram cylinder bore to form the bottom of a reservoir, an inner ram cylinder and an. outer concentrically spaced cylinder mounted in and upstanding from said bores, means for securing said cylinders in position on said base to form a reservoir therebetween, a ram passing through said securing means and reciprocable in said ram cylinder, said base having a third bore formed therein; a high pressure pump cylinder mounted ;in said third bore and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a valve bore disposed between the ram cylinder and the high pressure pump cylinder at substantially right angles to a common axial line passing through the centers of the said cylinders, said valve bore having stepped portions of gradually decreasing diameter and providing an outer re lease valve seat and two inwardly spaced yalve seats; conduit means formed in the body of the base and interconnecting the high pressure pump cylinder and the valve bore between the two innermost valve seats means forming a liquid conduit interconnecting the ram cylinder bore and the valve bore between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat, a release valve adjustably mounted in said bore with its inner end seating on said release valve seat, means forming a conduit interconnecting the reservoir withthe valve bore outwardly of said release valve seat, mean forming a liquid connection between the reservoir and the valve bore inwardly of the innermost of said spaced valve seats, and a pair of valves seated on said two adjacent innermost valve seats.

2. An. hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocabl in said pump cylinder, said base having'abore formed therein, a portion adjacent the-inner end of which is connected with the reservoir, and a portion adjacent the outer end of which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having a release valve seat between said reservoir connections, arelease valve adjustably mounted in said valve bore and adapted to close upon said release valve seat, said bore having two spaced apart valve seats spaced inwardly from the release valve seat and said second connection to the reservoir, valves adapted to close upon said spaced apart seats, said bore having a connection between said two last mentioned seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, and said bore having an additional connection located between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connecting with the ram cylinder, and spring means disposed between the release valve and the next adjacent valve for holding said nextladjacent valve on its seat, and spring means confined between said next adjacent valve and the valve spaced therefrom for holding said last mentioned valve on its seat.

3. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein one end of which is connected with the reservoir, and a portion adjacent to the opposite end of which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having means forming'a release valve seat between said connections, a valve adjustably mounted in said valve bore and adapted to close upon said release valve seat, said bore having two spaced apart valve seats spaced from the release valve seat and said first connection to the reservoir, valves adapted to close upon said spaced apart seats, said bore having a connection between said two last mentioned seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, said bore having an additional connection located between-the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connecting with the ram cylinder, said spaced apart valves comprising ball valves disposed in a line lying in the longitudinal axis of the release valve, spring means de'tachably mounted on said release valve and engaging one of said ball valves, and additional spring means between said spaced ball valves for urging the second of said ball valves on itsseat.

'4. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, av ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein one end of which is connected with the reservoir, and a portion spaced from the opposite end of said bore which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having a release valve seat between said connections, a release valve ad'justably mounted in said valve bore and adapted to close upon said release valve seat, said bore having two spaced apart valve seats spaced from the release valve seat and said first connection to the reservoir, ball valves adapted to close upon said spaced apart seats, said bore having a connection between said two last mentioned seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, and said bore having an additional connection located between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connecting with the ram cylinder, said release valve having a central bore in its end, a spring detachably mounted in said central bore and adapted to engage the next adjacent ball valve, and a second spring freely mounted between two ball valves for holding the second ball valve on its seat.

5. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein one end of which is connected with the reservoir, and a portion spaced from the opposite end of said bore which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having a release valve seat between said reservoir connections, a release valve adjustably mounted in said valve bore and adapted to close upon said release valve seat, said bore having two spaced apart valve seats spaced from the release valve seat and said first connection to the reservoir, valves adapted to close upon said spaced apart seats, said bore having a connection between said two last mentioned seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, said bore having an additional connection located between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connecting with the ram cylinder, said release valve and said two spaced valves being disposed in alignment with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the release valve, spring means disposed between said three valves for holding two of said valves on said seats, and means for removing the release valve from said base without disturbing said other two valves and the spring means confined therebetween.

6. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram'cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, ahigh pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein one end of which is connected with the reservoir, and a portion spaced from the opposite end of said bore which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having a release valve seat of relatively large diameter between said reservoir connections, a release valve adjustably mounted in said valve bore to close upon said relatively large release valve seat, said bore having two spaced apart valve seats of relatively smaller diameter spaced inwardly from the release valve seat and outwardly of said first connection to the reservoir, valves to close upon said spaced apart seats, said bore having a connection between said two last mentioned seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, said bore having an additional connection located between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connecting with the ram cylinder.

7. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a. in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein a portion adjacent one end of which is connected with the reservoir and a portion adjacent the opposite end of which is connected with the reservoir, said bore having means forming a release valve seat between said connections, a release valve adjustably mounted to close upon said release valve seat, said valve bore having passages interconnecting the reservoir, the ram cylinder, and the high pressure pump piston, and valve means in the bore operable on reciprocation of the piston for passing liquid under pressure from the reservoir to the ram cylinder, a packing nut threadedly engaging the outer end of the wall of the bore, said release valve having a threaded surface threadedly engaging an intermediate portion of the wall of the bore independently of the engagement of the packing nut with the walls of the bore, and interengaging shouldered means on the packing nut and on the release valve to provide for movement of the release valve from its seat when it is unscrewed to establish communication between the ram cylinder and reservoir, and for preventing the release valve from being entirely or completely unscrewed out of said bore.

8. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base, a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having a bore formed therein, a portion of said bore substantially near the inner end thereof being connected with'the reservoir, and a portion of said bore spaced inwardly of the outer end being also connected with the reservoir, the wall of said bore between such connections with the reservoir having a shoulder therein forming a release valve seat, a release Valve, means for adiustaoly mounting said release valve to close upon said release valve seat, means associated with said here providing two spaced apart valve seats spaced between the connections of said bore with said reservoir, valves for closing upon said last mentioned spaced apart valve seats, said valve bore having a connection between said two last mentioned valve seats connecting with the high pressure pump cylinder, and said bore having an additional connectionlocated between the release valve seat and the next adjacent valve seat and connected with the ram cylinder.

9. An hydraulic jack comprising a base, a ram cylinder mounted thereon, means on the base forming a reservoir associated with the ram cylinder, a ram in said cylinder, a high pressure pump cylinder mounted on the base and a piston reciprocable in said pump cylinder, said base having an elongated valve bore formed therein, liquid passages formed in said base, means forming a plurality of valve seats disposed in spaced relation in and longitudinally of said valve bore and of progressively decreasing diameter, one of said valve seats being a pressure release valve means including a pressure release valve adjustably disposed in said valve bore for closing the outer end thereof in liquid-tight relation to the walls of said bore, said release valve being shiitable to move said release valve relatively to its seat to control the flow of liquid between the ram cylinder and the reservoir, and additional valve means, movably mounted in said bore beyond said release valve to seat and unseat from certain of the additional spaced valve seats of said bore for controlling the liquid flow from the reservoir to said pump cylinder and from said pump cylinder to said ram cylinder upon reciprocation of the pump piston.

JOSEPH J. MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,453 Giovannoni Feb. 19, 1935 2,037,434 Pfauser Apr. 14, 1936 2,038,974 Werner Apr. 28, 1936 2,042,727 Mueller June 2, 1936 2,134,501 Bennett Oct. 25, 1938 2,358,711 Hill Sept. 19, 1944 

